Oklahoma § 45-2 - Certificates of competency - Violations - Examinations Qualification

§ 45-2. Certificates of competency - Violations - Examinations Qualification

A. No person shall act as a mine superintendent, mine foreman,

fire boss, shot-firer, certified surface blaster, hoisting engineer

or miner without first having obtained a certificate of competency

from the Oklahoma Mining Commission. No person shall employ such

mine superintendent, mine foreman, fire boss, shot-firer, certified

surface blaster, hoisting engineer or miner who does not hold such

certificate. Any person who violates the provisions of this

subsection, upon conviction, shall be fined not more than One

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 45. Mines and Mining

Thousand FiveHundred Dollars ($1,500.00) or be imprisoned in the

county jail for a term not more than six (6) months, or both.

B. The examination for a certificate of competency as mine

superintendent, mine foreman, fire boss, shot-firer, certified

surface blaster or hoisting engineer shall be administered by only

employees or advisors of the Department of Mines who also hold equal

or higher certificates of competency. The examination shall be

sufficient to determine that such applicant fully understands the

requirements of the coal mining laws of this state.

Each applicant for mine superintendent, mine foreman, fire boss,

certified surface blaster, hoisting engineer or shot-firer shall

hold a first-aid certificate issued within one (1) year prior to the

date of the examination of the Department by an organization

recognized by the Oklahoma Mining Commission.

C. The Department shall hold monthly examinations for

certificates of competency as underground miners. Applicants for

such certificate may be granted a temporary permit by the Commission

until an examination is held by theDepartment in the region in which

the applicant resides. Applicants must successfully answer a

written or oral examination pertaining to such requirements and

qualifications of underground miners as are determined necessary by

the Commission.

D. Certificates of competency shall be granted by the Oklahoma

Mining Commission to persons who have given the Department

satisfactory evidence of their ability to perform the duties and

skills as are required for the Council. Previous experience and

record of service of the applicant shall have equal weight with the

examination.

E. The minimum experience necessary for certificates of

competency are as follows:

1. Shot-firer - 1 year's practical underground

experience.

2. Certified surface blaster - 1 year's practical

experience.

3. Hoisting engineer - 1 year's practical

hoisting experience.

4. Fire boss - 2 years' practical underground

experience.

5. Mine foreman - 3 years' practical underground

experience.

6. Superintendent - 5 years' practical underground

experience.

7. Practical miner - 1 year's practical experience

as a miner or the equivalent

experience as defined by the

Commission.

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 45. Mines and Mining

Provided that the underground experience requirement for mine

foreman and the superintendent shall not apply to those positions in

surface mining.

F. A student who has completed an accredited two-year or fouryear mining program shall be credited one (1) year of experience

toward a fire boss, mine foreman or superintendent certification.

Amended by Laws 1982, c. 296, § 7; Laws 1985, c. 239, § 6, eff. Jan.

1, 1986; Laws 1986, c. 308, § 6, operative July 1, 1986.